John Adair Black Lives Matter protest photographs

Collection — Box: 1

Identifier: PH 397

Scope and Contents

The John Adair photographs comprise documentary photographs taken during the 2020-2021 Black Lives Matter (BLM) protests and marches in Eugene, Oregon. Protests began in Minneapolis, Minnesota on May 26, 2020 following the murder of George Floyd, a 46-year-old African American man, during an arrest by former police officer, Derek Chauvin. During the arrest, Chauvin knelt on Floyd's neck for 9 minutes and 29 seconds as three other officers looked on and prevented passers-by from intervening.

Civil unrest and protests quickly emerged as part of international reactions to police brutality and racism. An estimated 15 to 26 million people across 2,000 cities and towns in over 60 countries participated in demonstrations to support the BLM movement. As of 2021, the George Floyd protests are the largest in U.S. history.

Adair’s photographs show local BLM protest and march participants in Eugene, Oregon. Subjects of images include march leaders, protestors, protest signs, and counter-protestors. Some series include confrontations with counter-protestors, including counter-protestors from the Blue Lives Matter countermovement and supporters of former president Donald Trump.

There are 169 original digital images and a selection of 10 (9.5 x 13”) archival inkjet color images printed from the digital collection. The materials are foldered and housed in 1 flat box measuring 15 x 12-inches and arranged in the original order established by the photographer.

Sources: Buchanan, Larry; Bui, Quoctrung; Patel, Jugal. "Black Lives Matter May Be the Largest Movement in U.S. History". The New York Times, July 3, 2020. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/07/03/us/george-floyd-protests-crowd-size

Levenson, Eric. "Former officer knelt on George Floyd for 9 minutes and 29 seconds -- not the infamous 8:46." CNN, March 29, 2021. Retrieved from: https://www.cnn.com/2021/03/29/us/george-floyd-timing-929-846/

Dates

2020-2021

Creator

Adair, John (Photographer, Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Collection must be used in Special Collections and University Archives Reading Room.

Collection or parts of collection may be stored offsite. Please contact Special Collections and University Archives in advance of your visit to allow for transportation time.

Digital files may be requested through Special Collections and University Archives Reproductions and Permissions Request Form.

Conditions Governing Use

Property rights reside with Special Collections and University Archives, University of Oregon Libraries. Copyright resides with the creators of the documents or their heirs.

All requests for permission to publish collection materials must be submitted to Special Collections and University Archives. The reader must also obtain permission of the copyright holder.

Biographical / Historical

John Adair (b.1990- ) is a photographer and visual storyteller. He has worked as a social media manager, photojournalist with Double Sided Media in Eugene, Oregon, and event photographer for community groups and civil rights organizations.

His work has been published in Denali Magazine, Scribendi, and The Pitch KC, and exhibited at galleries such as Maude Kerns and Auburn Art Gallery. He received a Black Lives Matter Artist Award for his 2021 project BLKGLD, a series of black and white portraits of his family members, which was featured at the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art.

Among photo series projects including “Scars” and “The Hunt,” he has also created photo documentaries such as “Trucker Diaries,” which features documentary photography of Adair’s journey as a truck driver. Adair studies Multimedia Design at Lane Community College and aims to use his work to bring compelling stories to local communities.

Source: Adair, John. “About me.” John Adair Photographs, 2021. Retrieved from: https://www.johnadairphotographs.com/bio

Extent

18.7 gigabyte(s) (169 digital image files)

1.08 linear feet (1 container) : 1 (15 x 12") flat box

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

John Adair (b.1990- ) is a photographer and visual storyteller. His work has been featured in the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art and published in Denali Magazine, Scribendi, and The Pitch KC. This collection consists of 350 original digital images and a selection of 10 images printed from the digital collection. The images feature documentary photography of the 2020-2021 Black Lives Matter protests and marches in Eugene, Oregon following the murder of George Floyd. Photographs contain images of march leaders, participants, protest signs, and counter-protestors.

Arrangement

The John Adair photographs are arranged in the original order established by the photographer. There are 169 original digital images and a selection of 10 (9.5 x 13-inch) archival inkjet, color images printed from the digital files. The prints are foldered and housed in one (15 x 12-inch) flat box.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Purchase from John Adair on 2021 June 13.

Existence and Location of Copies

Collection is available online with access restrictions in John Adair Black Lives Matter protest photographs in Oregon Digital.

Subjects

African Americans -- Civil rights -- Oregon Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Black lives matter movement -- Photographs Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Documentary photography Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Racial justice Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Social justice Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Social movements--United States Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings